Bangladesh held their nerve to claim a thrilling four-wicket win over Afghanistan in the first T20I of the three-match series in Sharjah, taking a 1-0 lead. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan produced a remarkable four-wicket haul that almost turned the game, but timely contributions from Nurul Hasan and Rishad Hossain ensured Bangladesh emerged victorious.
Chasing a modest target of 152, Bangladesh started cautiously, scoring 14 runs in the first three overs. Openers Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Parvez Hossain Emon then took control, attacking Afghanistan’s bowlers in the powerplay. Emon was particularly aggressive, hitting Mohammad Nabi for consecutive sixes and benefitting from a couple of reprieves, as Bangladesh reached 50 runs in the first six overs.
After the powerplay, Tanzid Hasan accelerated, clearing the ropes multiple times, while Emon continued his assault. The pair brought up fifties and stitched a commanding century partnership, taking Bangladesh to 95/0 at the halfway mark. Victory seemed inevitable.
However, Rashid Khan turned the game on its head. He removed Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan in quick succession, then picked two more wickets in his final over, reducing Bangladesh from 109/0 to 118/6. Noor Ahmad added to the pressure by taking another wicket in the next over, giving Afghanistan hope of a dramatic comeback.
At this tense moment, Rishad Hossain and Nurul Hasan steadied the ship with crucial boundaries. Nurul finished the chase in style with back-to-back sixes, guiding Bangladesh to 153/6 in 18.4 overs and sealing a thrilling four-wicket victory.
Earlier, Afghanistan had struggled to maintain momentum despite a strong start from Ibrahim Zadran, who struck three boundaries in the opening over. Early wickets and a run-out of Darwish Rasooli saw Afghanistan at 33/3 at the end of the powerplay. Although Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi offered resistance, Afghanistan could only post 151/9 in their 20 overs. Rashid Khan’s 4/18 was the highlight for Afghanistan, nearly pulling off a remarkable turnaround.
With this win, Bangladesh takes a 1-0 lead in the series, setting up an exciting contest for the remaining two T20Is in Sharjah.
Brief Scores:
Afghanistan 151/9 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 40, Mohammad Nabi 38; Rishad Hossain 2/33)
Bangladesh 153/6 in 18.4 overs (Parvez Hossain Emon 54, Tanzid Hasan Tamim 51; Rashid Khan 4/18) – Bangladesh won by 4 wickets